HIGHER EDUCATION IN EMERGENCIES – UKRANIAN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

SHARING RESOURCES ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN UKRAINE – Useful good reads

 

 

It might useful to take a look at the following notes:

Link: 

https://www.dges.gov.pt/pt/noticia/estudantes-em-situacoes-de-emergencia-humanitaria-nacionais-da-ucrania

Link:

https://wenr.wes.org/2019/06/education-in-ukraine

Link

https://wenr.wes.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Ukraine-Sample-Documents.pdf

Link

https://erasmusplus.org.ua/en/higher-education-in-ukraine/1972-overview-of-the-higher-education-developments-in-ukraine.html

5. Note on the Education system in Ukraine (compared with the Dutch system) 

 Link

https://www.nuffic.nl/sites/default/files/2020-08/education-system-ukraine.pdf

Link

https://www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/work-regulations/working-in-the-netherlands-or-another-eu-country

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Global Platform for Higher Education in Emergencies is a NGO based in Portugal. It is aimed at offering academic opportunities for students from conflict-affected societies, in forced mobility or at risk.

It started its activities in 2013 as the Global Platform for Syrian Students (www.globalplatformforsyrianstudents.org) when it launched an emergency scholarship programme for Syrian Students that is operational since then. Over the past years, it has awarded more than 750 annual scholarships and provided support to around 300 students allowing them to complete their BA, MA or PhD degrees.
 
Since 2017 it has enlarged its scholarship programme to other nationalities in the framework of the Rapid Response Mechanism for Higher Education in Emergencies (RRM) that is being set up in order to deliver more, better and faster academic opportunities in crisis situations

Against this backdrop, in August 2020 the former Global platform for Syrian Students became the Global Platform for Higher Education in Emergencies, thus adapting adapting its mission statement and  making it matching its current work on the ground.

The Global Platform is now working in close cooperation with higher education institutions, networks of laboratories and research centers in Portugal to offer academic opportunities to students/researchers and scholars from Ukraine who are fleeing the war and look for a safe haven and a welcoming environement to go ahead through these very challenging times.

While higher education institutions in Portugal are ready to host the first intake of students/researchers/scholars candidates, we are also preparing intakes for the upcoming academic year 2022-2023.

Therefore we intive all students/researchers/scholars to fill in the Expression of Interest form (below) and submit it to allow us to get a sense of your profile ad what you are looking for.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Portugal, fully aware that education provides protection, enhances resilience and builds hope for the future.

 

Please find here an Expression of Interest form.

 

Be resilient, keep hope in the future.

 

 

 

On the occasion of the International Migrants day, the Global Platform for Higher Education in Emergencies (former Global Platform for Syrian Students) is keen on extending warm greetings to all its students, alumna and alumni across the world.

We renew our firm commitment to provide academic support to young people from conflict-affected societies, students at risk, on forced mobility or caught up in humanitarian crises. Expanding our scholarship programmes is our top priority as we see a dramatic rise in numbers of young people in need of protection. In 2020 approximately 281 million people were international migrants. Among them, nearly 82.4 million people are forcibly displaced - people fleeing wars, violence, persecution, and human rights violations.

In emergency situations such as armed conflicts and natural disasters, education matters. Education is a right, but it also contributes to self-reliance and acts as a powerful drive for change. Providing higher education opportunities to the vital 18-30 age group in crises settings remains a huge challenge though investing in skills pays off from both a humanitarian and development perspective.

We would also like to seize this opportunity to ask candidates to the Call for Applications we launched in July to be patient. We apologize very sincerely for not having been able to deliver results on the ground so far. But we are working hard to answer to all candidates soon with a view to
organizing a new intake for the upcoming academic year. In the meantime a Portuguese language on-line course will also be proposed to all potential candidates.

As according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) the 2021 theme is "Harnessing the potential of human mobility" , the Global Platform for Higher Education in Emergencies would like to underline that education is a fundamental right and that every migrant and refugee in every country is entitled to it. As a contribution to the 2021 theme, the Global Platform suggests to discuss further and work together with like-minded partners the topical issue of harnessing the transformative power of education which remains a challenge precisely for those people and communities who would benefit the most.

On the occasion of the International Migrants Day, we are pleased to invite you all to watch a documentary untitled "No Chão Que Eles Pisam" on Syrian students and Afghan refugees in Portugal, made by Candida Pinto and Daniel Mota, to be displayed on the 20 and 21st December at 9 pm (Portuguese time) at RTP channel 1. Get a sense of this amazing documentary, watch the trailers below:

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

 

On behalf of our students, alumna and alumni, let us express heartfelt thanks to all our partners and donors. Your support makes a real difference.

 

A commemoration event co-organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations will be held on 6 December at the UN Headquarters (New York) to pay tribute to the memory of H.E. President Jorge Sampaio, former President of the Portuguese Republic and the first High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and UN Special Envoy to Stop Tuberculosis. The UN Secretary General, Mr António Guterres, the Higher Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Mr Miguel Moratinos, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Augusto Santos Silva among other high level personalities will take the floor.

The event takes place between 13h30 and 14h30 (New York time) which means 18h30-19h30 in Lisbon. It will be livestreamed on: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1o/k1o80xtfiw

On the occasion of this session, a small publication will be disseminated among participants enabling other voices to join this Tribute with their messages and testimonials. It is entitled Jorge Sampaio: a Bridge Builder at the United Nations - a Tribute.

For more information: https://www.unaoc.org/2021/12/media-advisory-a-tribute-to-the-memory-of-h-e-president-jorge-sampaio/

 

The initiative provides a regional emergency solution to implement an innovative Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) for Higher Education in the Euro-Mediterranean region. This project will enable 300 refugees and students from the host communities to access higher education institutions in the next 3 years.

 

21 October 2021, Barcelona. The Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) met today at the level of Senior Officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs. They endorsed a new regional initiative to support access to higher education for the refugee and displaced populations. They also discussed the preparations of the 6th UfM Regional Forum and the first edition of the annual Day of the Mediterranean, to be celebrated on 28 November 2021. This day was unanimously declared by the 42 Member States of the UfM in November 2020.

In the world, only 1% of refugees of relevant age have access to higher education. To face this issue, and contribute to the UNHCR goal of increasing to 15% the number of refugee students by 2030, the Global Platform for Higher Education received the endorsement of the 42 UfM Member States to its project “Implementing a Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) for Higher Education in Emergencies in the Euro-Med region”.

“Universities and research centres cannot be underestimated as powerful drivers of growth. They act as nerve centres, home to the bold, bright and disruptive sparks of innovation our society thrives on. We must seek to exploit this natural resource to its fullest, allowing our young people to pursue their ambitions in higher education and beyond”, said UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel. ‎

The Rapid Response Mechanism for Higher Education in Emergencies in the Euro-Med region

In response to the global emergency that the Covid-19 pandemic has created, this initiative helps refugee and displaced population access higher education institutions by capitalising on their capacities to receive foreign students. The project, with a duration of 36 months, aims at running an emergency two-year scholarship programme for 300 beneficiaries to be implemented in 10 countries (Egypt, France, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey), involving mainly Syrian refugees but not exclusively.

The project provides non-academic support such as mentoring, soft skills training and career development. Furthermore, it aims at setting-up a fully operational mechanism allowing the international community to develop a fast-track entry point that addresses higher education needs in times of crisis. The scholarship programme will pay attention to empowerment opportunities for young women and to studies matching the needs of the new digital era.

“For young men and women from war-torn countries, education opportunities give hope for the future; and for their families and communities back home, it is like a light shining in their dark world. Higher education in emergency situations is often neglected. Yet, it is home to the vital 18-28 age group. It gives protection, contributes to self-reliance and acts as a catalyst for the recovery. Doing more, better and faster is not an option but an obligation that is win-win-win: for humankind, society and the academic community”, said Helena Barroco, Head of the project. 

Rasha, a current beneficiary of the program added: “The scholarship saved my life, physically and emotionally, and gave me the opportunity to live, study and succeed in Portugal. It has changed my life significantly. It allowed me to feel and hope again, and it helped me to break all social chains around me and breathe like a proud woman for the first time in my life. It made me brave to express my feelings and to be myself, and, above all, it made me dare to dream.”

More information

UfM Senior Officials: The Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean meet on a regular basis at the level of Senior Officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the 42 countries. The Senior Officials Meetings (SOM) oversee and coordinate the work of the UfM. They approve the budget and the work programme of the Secretariat. They also discuss the project proposals submitted by the Secretariat for approval and endorsement. UfM Senior Officials take decisions by consensus.

• UfM “How do we work?” Infographic

About the promoter of the project: The Global Platform for Higher Education in Emergencies is an experienced organisation which has been running emergency scholarship programmes since 2013, and through this project expects to enlarge the Academic Consortium, to further develop the Financing Facility, and to improve the coordination mechanism. Synergies will be created with other regional initiatives, like the university networks participating in the UfM Dialogue Platforms (UNIMED, Thétys, ESN), the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fes or EMUNI, to expand the consortium and promote the initiative.

·         How does the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) For Higher Education in Emergencies Works

 

 

 

As President Sampaio, the founder and chairman of the Global Platform for Higher Education in Emergencies (former Global Platform for Syrian Students) passed away two weeks ago, we had to spend some time to fix internal and management issues. In this regard, I am pleased to announce that our Financial Officer, Mr. Joaquim Mestre, took the chairmanship of the Board of the Global Platform.

Though this is still an ongoing process, the most important point is that our Board that met on 21 September is adamant that keeping the current activities going is a top priority. At the same time, the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs has expressed its unwavering support to the Global Platform. Last but not the least, there were innumerous voices among our partners and beyond expressing full support to our action on the ground.

All in all, everyone sees the Global Platform as part of President Sampaio’s legacy that we are all responsible for developing further and making it stronger by the day.

So here we are, bouncing back and catching up. We have resumed all ongoing activities and are fully committed to deliver more, better and faster results on the ground.

Thank you all for your support over these very difficult times and for your many words of sympathy and solidarity.

As President Sampaio used to say, together we can make it happen. Let’s get down to work. There is no time to lose.

Helena Barroco,
Secretary General of the Global Platform

 

 

 

Today, September 9, the world observes the UN’s "International Day to Protect Education from Attack". Yet access to education at all levels is but a shattered dream for millions of children and young adults who live in crisis-affected countries.

In proclaiming the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, the UN is sending a clear message regarding the importance of safeguarding education institutions as places of protection and safety for students and educators and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.

The Global Platform for Higher Education in Emergencies (former Global platform for Syrian Students), founded by President Jorge Sampaio in 2013, is fully committed to contribute to expanding the access to higher education to students and researchers in need of protection, at risk or in forced mobility. 

Thanks our emergency scholarship programme supported by a multi-stake-holder platform, since 2014 more than 300 Syrian Students have resumed their education and most of them have already graduated and completed their academic degrees. 

We are now strongly committed to set up a Rapid Response Mechanism for Higher Education in Emergencies (RRM) to be able to deliver more, better and faster academic opportunities on the ground. At the same time, we are preparing a new initiative to support Afghan female students as well as to stepping up our emergency scholarship programme, notably for Syrian and Lebanese students.

Matching words and deeds is the only way to make progress. Endorse our goals, join our ongoing efforts. Together we can make it happen. 

 

 

It is with great sadness that the Office of President Jorge Sampaio learned of his passing on September, 10th, 2021 in Lisbon at the age of 81. He was admitted to hospital after feeling unwell and has been treated for a respiratory problem that worsened because of his underlying health condition.

We are mourning the loss of a wonderful person, a great personality, a role model and a most inspiring leader who devoted his life to public service. For so many he was a light in this world and now we need to continue shining his light by carrying it within us in our lives.

His office extends its deepest condolences to his family and to his innumerous friends in Portugal and from all around the world.